A narrative-based study on working well-being of intensive care unit doctors

Introduction Intensive care unit (ICU) is a department with its own peculiarities. Organizational and relational pressures influence actions of ICU doctors.Their working well-being also depends on how they addressed them.The aim of thisstudy was to investigate the current work well-beingof ICU medical staffthrough anarrative approach.The purpose of the research wasn’t to determine the actual context of the events but to explore how individuals gave meaning to the eventsthemselves. Narrative medicine is a science that helps all professionals in the health system to welcome carefully the experiences of both people living with a disease, and those who care of them.We wanted to investigate needs and perceptions of ICUworking reality. Identify, where present, single or common elements of discomfort or aggregation.Materials and MethodsWe presented the project to involved ICU doctors.We explained the concepts of narrative medicine. Narrative Medicine means a methodology of clinical-care intervention based on a specificcommunicative competence. So weadministered a semi-structured script, in the form of a fairy tale (fig.1)The intensivists put their stories into a box in anonymous way.The stories were read by two groups separately. Thenthe two groups confronted each other. Multivariate information from stories was analyzed using cluster analysis. At the end of analysis we reported obtained results to involved people.ResultsWe collected 15 stories in a data gridreporting working age and sex of the participants(11F/4M, average age46.3years old).Stories followed the given trail.They were full of details, descriptions of colors and characters. Initial description represented two separate realities. The two houses, and their inhabitants, are different. The construction of a new home represented the breaking of a routine through the arrival of a diversity that was viewed with suspicion. Then cohabitation led to collaboration. Houses inhabitants help themselvesbut remain individual. We analized recurring words, emotions, today's feeling and future perspectives. (fig.2)Prevailing emotions were fear, sadness, irritation, loneliness, expectation, confidence.Recurring wordswere work, respect, freedom, diversity, landmark, cold. We noticed also the presence of conflicting words: silence/noise, little/big, young/old, vitality-liveliness. In the end the narratives shared a positive propensity towards the future. Future based on complicity but also in respect for identities.ConclusionsICU doctors work in contexts often in conflict with each other. They are subject to external and internal pressures. It may be difficult talk about emotional experiences. Narrative Medicine is careful to the person in its entirity. The analysis of texts written by health professionals allows usto understand their culture, values, needs, passions, personal and professional projects.Narrative approach allows them to share feelings and opinions. Furthermore, anonymity facilitated the externalization of deep emotionsthrough the narration of a fairy tale. Our study is qualitative and based on a small sample but suggests that narrative approach can be an effective means of investigation the ICU medical staff A narrative-based study on working well-being of intensive care unit doctors | Request PDF. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327307337_A_narrative-based_study_on_working_well-being_of_intensive_care_unit_doctors [accessed Sep 04 2018].